Conduit-forming jack



J. E. MARQUISS.

CONDUIT FORMING JACK.

APPLICATION HLED MAY 10,1921.

j427964, l PatentedSept. V5, 1922A iwf Patented Sept. 5, 1922.

JAMES E. IVIARQUISS, OF MONTICELLO, ILLINOIS.

CONDU1TFORMING JACK.

Application filed May 10, 1921.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that l, JAMES E. MARQUiss, a citizen of the United States, residing at Monticello, in the county of Piatt and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Conduit-Forming Jacks; and l do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

rllhe present invention relates to a jack designed especially for forming a conduit in or through the ground, such as under a pavement, sidewalk, or the like, from one side to the other, in order to avoidr digging a ditch or tearing up the pavement, sidewalk, or the like; it being the object of the invention to provide a novel and improved device of that character which is especially suited and eflicient for the intended purpose.

Another object is the provision of such a jack having a novel and improved ratchet device for pushing a pipe horizontally in order to force it through the ground.

A further object is to provide such a device which is extremely simple and-inexpensive in construction, as well as being practical and eiicient in use.

l/V ith the foregoing and other objects in View, which will be apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device as in use, portions being shown in section.

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

1n carrying out the invention, there is provided an elongated base 7 composed of a -plank or board of hard wood or other suitable material, adapted to seat on the bottom of a trench or hole in the ground, as seen in Fig. 1. Disposed longitudinally on the base 7 is a guide and ratchet rail 8 having the base flanges 9 secured on the base 7 by means of bolts 10 or other securing elements, and said rail has a web 11 rising from the base flanges 9, and a head 12 on said web. Said head is formed on its upper surface with a Serial No. 458,458.

longitudinal series of ratchet teeth 13.

A slide 1d is movable on the rail 8, and has the shoes 15 slidable in the opposite side grooves of the rail between the head 12 and flanges 9, to guide the slide for longitudinal movement. Said slide 14 has the end arches 16 and 17 connecting the ends of the shoes 15 and straddling the head of the rail, and the arches 16 and 17 are connected by a top bar 18. The forward end arch 16 has a recess 19 for the engagement of the rear end of the pipe or conduit 20 which is to be pushed, or for the engagement of a cap 2l threaded on the end of the pipe.

.ln order to move the slide forwardly on the rail, an upwardly-extending handle socket 22 is provided, to receive the lower end of a lever or handle 23, to obtain a purchase in actuating the device, and the socket 22 has a fork 24tat its lower end straddling the rear end arch 1T of the slide and fulcrumed, at 25, to said arch for forward and rearward swinging movement. A U- shaped dog or pawl 26 is pivoterd at its ends, as at 27, to the terminals of the fork 24 below the fulcrum 25, and extends forwardly with its intermediate portion resting on the ratchet teeth 13. A similarly shaped dog or pawl 28 is pivoted at its ends to the slices 15, and also extends forwardly and bears at its intermediate portion on the teeth 13 in advance of the dog 26. The slide 14 has transverse opening 30 therethrough between the bar 18 and shoes 15 through which the dogs extend, and limiting the upper swinging movement of the dogs away from the ratchet teeth, to prevent the dogs from swinging rearwardly out of operative positions. The dogs extending within the opening 30 are also protected, so as not to be accidentally kicked out of engagement with the ratchet teeth. Furthermore, with the relation of the dogs and other parts, the device is compact and strong.

A transverse cleat 31 is secured on the forward end portion of the base 7 beyond the forward end of the rail, and a pair of guide rollers 32 is mounted on said cleat, being rotatable on vertical aXle pins 33 which are preferably connected by a cross bar 34. The rollers are grooved peripherally to fit the opposite side of the pipe or conduit 20, whereby to guide said pipe and steady it in its movement.

In order to hold the base 7 in place on the ground, a stake 35 can be driven into the ground, and, as shown, has a recess 36 to receive the rear end of the base 7, whereby the rearward pressure on the rail and base is taken up by the stake. takes or pins S7 can also be driven through the base 7 into the ground, to assist in holding the device in place.

In operation, when the base 7 is secured on the ground, and the slide lfl is retracted to its rearmost position against or adjacent to the stake 35, the pipe or conduit 2O is then inserted between the guide rollers 32 and the rear end thereoi1 engaged by the slide la. rlhen, by oscillating the lever or handle 23, the slide is advanced forwardly step by step with considerable force. Thus, when the lever is swung forwardly, the dog 3G engaging'one of the teeth 13 cannot move rearwardly, and the handle socket will then swing around the pivot 27 as a center, thereby moving` the ulcrum Q5 and slide 18 forwardly. lWhen the handle or lever 2S is swung rearwardly, the dog 2S in engaging the ratchet teeth, will prevent the slidely from moving rearwardly, and the dog` 26 is therefore moved forwardly Vto engage the tooth in advance, so that when the lever is again swung forwardly, this will advance the slide another step. When the pipe has been pushed to bring the rear end thereof near the rollers 32, the slide le can be re`I turned again to starting position, and another section of pipe added to those already shoved into the ground, the pipe or conduit being built up of sections added one after the other as they are in turn shoved into the ground.

The device is especially useful for pushing pipes or conduits through the ground trom one point to another without the necessity of digging a ditch 'for the entire length of the pipe or conduit, such as when placing a pipe or conduit under a pavement, sidewalk, or the like.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is fr pushing jack comprising a rail having ratchet teeth thereon, a slide having shoes movable along' the sides of the rail and arches at the ends connecting said shoes and straddling the rail over said ratchet teeth, an oscillatory actuating member fulcrumed on one of said arches, a dog pivoted to said member, a dog pivoted to said shoes, said dogs engaging said teeth between said arches, and said slide having a top bar connecting said arches to brace said arches and to limit the upward swinging movement ot' and protect said dogs, and said slide having an opening surrounded by said shoes, arches and bar in which said dogs are disposed.

n testimony whereoic l have signed my name to this speciiication in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES E. MARQUSS.

Witnesses Giro. P. MARTIN,

B. l'VEDDLn. 

